🔗 Share this article Arnaud Kalimuendo Fires as Forest Earn Nostalgic Triumph Over Malmö “Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the City Ground as Nottingham Forest fans reveled in another success against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the European Cup in the year 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those memories. Similarly, major shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and earning a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the European competition. Gaining Momentum with Third Consecutive Win For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy generated from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s historic triumph in name, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or nerves. It proved to be an event dripping in sentiment, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago. Forest leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally present. Both teams shared a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates received a rousing welcome when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically superb display was unveiled in the Trent End. Recalling History “May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second stunning display depicted Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion. Dominance from the Outset So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort off target inside two minutes and established a two-goal lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck. It felt fitting that Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from just inside the penalty area to score his first goal since last March. Second Strike Confirms Dominance Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and just his second outing since September, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post. Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected aside off the back Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic had earlier had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen. Malmö’s Struggles This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match Forest’s energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers. Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. The manager, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also scored three goals, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs during the second half. Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team It proved a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the game long since sewn up and subsequently brought on 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.